Peace Will Come!

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July 5th, 2045

2100 hours

MISSION: Finish the War!

Personnel: Col Jones

Location: CLASSIFIED!

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“This is it!” I say looking towards Major Carson as we strap on our parachutes “The beginning of the end!”

He smiles “Making history today!” Carson tightens the straps on his sides.

Today is the day we finish this war. The day we finally bring peace to our God abandoned nation.

We have been fighting for over ten years to save ourselves from the government that believes we are no more than cattle for their own benefit. Hard to believe how far we’ve come, from that small militia in the mines to an army capable of removing a dictator from power.

I look at the patch on Carson’s shoulder, the same one as my own, the heart-shaped locket. Not many know the story unless you were a member of the original group.

The heart-shaped locket that has been the symbol of the rebellion, from our leader. The story goes that his daughter had a heart-shaped locket around her neck before she was shot down for stealing one more piece of bread for her old man. That was what started all of this.

If a man has nothing left to lose. He can do just about anything.

We fight for all the families that have had loved ones taken from them by the monster we call our government. Peace will come! We will bring peace to our nation!

We finish setting ourselves up and go out to motivate the troops. Twenty men sit on either side of the plane looking scared out of their minds. You can feel the tension in the air.

All eyes are on us, I clear my throat. “Major Carson will now explain the mission!” I say gesturing to Carson.

“Alright men! Our mission, our final mission, is to eliminate President Ellen Franches!” He pauses to let that sink in. “Right now we have over twenty-thousand troops on the ground pushing to breach Fort Grant as we speak, our intel says Franches will be hiding in his bunker under his office. We will breach the skylight in the main hall and fight our way to his office where we will corner him and publicly execute him, ending this war.” I notice the eyes of most of the men are looking at their boots.

“It’s a tall order. It will not be easy and many of us may die, but we have been training for this! You men are the heroes of the rebellion for taking this mission! You men have proved yourselves capable of ending this war once and for all! This is not a war for power, this is a war for peace. You will bring that peace. We’ve said it time and time again and I am asking you to say it one last time. For the last time. Scream it out loud because you will make it true!”

Just then a soldier stands up and salutes Carson and myself. “Peace will come!”

Another stands. “Peace will come!”

And another. “Peace will come!”

Soon all men are standing with salutes and chins held high. I join the salute.

As one we yell one last time.

“Peace. Will. Come!”

As the words leave our lips, fire engulfs the plane.

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June 26th, 2068

2300 hours

MISSION: Watch for Suspicious Activity!

Personnel: SGT Clark

Location: Grant Mason Tower, C. (10th Floor)

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How did we get here? Honestly, I ask myself that question more times than I thought I ever would.

How did we let things get so out of hand? We fought and clawed our way to overthrow the Government that treated us like caged animals. We put our faith in a group that told us "Peace will come," with their heart-shaped locket symbol and motivational speeches. "Peace will come," how could we hear one phrase so many times?

"Clark!" I hear someone call from my left interrupting my thoughts.

Looking over I see that it's Johnson. He is wearing his usual get up, combat boots with all black attire, black pants with a black shirt and the standard issue jacket with our symbol on the back. His dark skin blends well with the shadows of the shattered building we have been stationed at.

"Sorry, was thinking." I mumble as I go back to looking over ruined Chicago.

"Yeah, that's about right for you. Anything particular?" He sits beside me, I can feel his gaze on my face.

"Just the past." I sigh, bringing my canteen to my lips and drinking a few gulps of the sour water I've grown to appreciate.

"The past is in the past, look towards the future because peace will come!" He says as he slaps his hand on my back.

That phrase makes me clench my jaw. Suddenly I am grateful for the cover of night that hides my disapproval.

"Peace will come" I say in response.

“Right! I was sent up to come gather you for a meeting, Colonel Yelts has new orders for us.” Johnson stands and dusts off his pants. I stand up as well, picking up my gun from the wall and slinging it over my shoulder.

“Alright.” I motion for him to lead.

Following Johnson down the flights of stairs I see the view slowly get ripped away from my sight. Reaching the sixth floor I begin to hear the noise coming from below.

“Must be something important to cause this much commotion.” I say to Johnson as we reach the third floor. I notice his heart locket is beginning to fade and make a mental note to remind him to get a new jacket issued. Rather not lose my one and only friend just because his jacket might be disrespectful to the cause.

“No clue, but I agree, the Colonel seemed more serious than usual” Johnson responds scratching the back of his neck with his free hand.

Reaching the first floor the noise reaches a roar as he opens the door to the command deck. I hear one soldier in the crowd say “Is this true? He’s moving?” This piques my interest and I quicken my pace to reach the front of the crowd. Johnson following close behind.

Breaking through the front lines I look for the Colonel and finally see him standing towards the left of the stage. He seems to be analyzing a map but then quickly puts it away and begins to approach center stage. The room grows silent before he reaches his destination.

“Alright, we have new orders straight from HQ as I’m sure many of you have already heard.” He pauses as if waiting for his words to build suspense.

“The glorious one is moving locations!” With this the noise continues once again, a mix of surprise and excitement fills the room.

“Quiet!” The Colonel yells over the crowd and things silence over once again.

“You lucky bastards get the supreme honor of being his escorts, you will safely see him across a twenty-five-mile path through the wasteland where you will then pass that honor on to the next platoon to finish the mission for the remaining twenty-five miles!” The Colonel pauses although I know he doesn’t expect a response.

“What about the Tarnished and the Forsaken ones?” I hear someone ask from the back. Obviously, a recruit.

“That’s what we have you there for. Focus up private!” The Colonel yells which earns a laugh from the crowd but is quickly silenced by the Colonel's gaze.

“This mission will occur at 0400 hours; I suggest you all get some rest and prepare yourselves for the long march. Dismissed!” With this the crowd disperses.

“Woah! Did you hear that? He’s actually moving!” Johnson says to me as I stand there speechless.

I am excited for this mission and yet terrified of the weight on our shoulders.

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June 27th, 2068

0530 hours

MISSION: Protect the Glorious One!

Personnel: SGT Clark

Location: CLASSIFIED!

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The beginning of the march was just as brutal as everyone had thought it may be. With twenty men on either side of the Glorious ones armored car, we are beginning to tire. To think we are only halfway through our set of twenty-five miles.

Our Formation is fairly simple for the occasion, without attracting much attention, the military has decided to use three tanks, one in the front, one in the center, and one in the rear. There are also two mounted gun vehicles on either side of the Glorious ones armored car. Each vehicle has been equipped with UV spotlights to help point out targets on all sides. We also have forty men, in groups of four, to help defend areas that the tanks may have a hard time seeing. It isn’t enough to call an army, but it should be enough to warn others away from attacking.

My group is set towards the front right side of the formation making us in the most dangerous position.

So far things have been mostly peaceful, we have only had to open fire a few times on some Tarnished patrols that made the mistake of being in the road.

Honestly, the Tarnished have no chance standing against us. They’re whole ideology is for anarchy after failing to pass the background check for the military and being cast out. Its sad to see. They aren’t very organized like the Forsaken ones, so they aren’t to much trouble to deal with when we run into one of their patrols.

“Another Tarnished!” I hear the tank commander yell as the lights of the armored cars turns towards one singular Tarnished standing in the middle of the road.

“Let me handle this!” I hear a soldier say as he breaks rank to approach the singular Tarnished. A tall pale young man who looks like he could stand to gain a few pounds.

I recognize the kid as Corporal Whickner, a hotshot who enjoys a fight but tends to put himself in danger without reason.

“Huh, weird there is only one of them. I thought they traveled in groups?” Johnson says from behind me.

As Whickner approaches the Tarnished, I notice something flashing on the single individual in the road. “Wait! Don’t touch him!” But I’m too late. The individual explodes into a fiery mass which engulfs the Corporal.

I hear whistling on all sides and realize what this is. “We’ve been played!”

“Protect the Glorious one at all costs!” I hear the Colonel yell from the center of the formation.

Just then the front tank explodes into a heap of melted metal. Anti-tank mines must have been placed in the road.

I squint my eyes and my ears ring from the explosion.

I feel a second explosion and realize the tank at the rear must have been taken out as well.

Gunshots come from either side of the road.

From the darkness of the destroyed buildings, I know we have been surrounded. I can just barely make out the white face paint of the Forsaken staring at us.

There is one more whistle before the Forsaken charge forward towards the formation.

“Don’t break rank!” I command my group over the gunfire as we begin to return fire towards the Forsaken.

It has turned into an all-out war.

“Get him out of here now!” I hear the Colonel command the driver and the two gun mounted vehicles.

The vehicles speed forward behind the tank as we get overwhelmed by the ambush.

TO BE CONTINUED…